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So pham, long story short my time at the monastery was fruitful in that it has shown me a lot. I am officially taking a break from any kind of discernment until the new year, possibly longer. I need to deal with some deep wounds before I take steps in any direction right now. Please pray for me during this time.

Yeah... I was a novice in a community like that, which did not show the constitutions to discerners until novitiate. I can't remember what the reason was, although in general that group was very concerned about privacy. But my main thing is with the last part of what you said. Frankly if a religious community interprets an earnest question from a discerner as an effort to resist their way of life - that should raise a major red flag about the health of that community. The constitutions are a major part of community identity and many make them publicly available on demand. It's a perfectly reasonable question. There are communities where the culture toward newcomers is such that every minute thing is interpreted as an act of disrespect or insolence towards established community authority and tradition... my advice would be to leave a wide berth.

The Fairfield monastery is about 3 miles from my house. I have watched it grow over the last few years with interest.

I know you all missed this place. Maybe we should all contribute a pittance to help keep this place running.

Just wanted to say that it's a great thing that this place exists. Especially now more than ever… There's a lot of confusion in the world, including among Catholics living in it. I think that this is a very relevant platform, for encouraging, strengthening, clarifying, and reaching out. Thank you for keeping it going, Dust.

I appreciate when a community states clearly what their spirituality and apostolates are. Sometimes there is lots of pious language but I don't actually know what sort of works that they do! And recent news and events is always great.

Thanks be to God for his great mercy. God bless you for your witness man.

Wrong on both statements. He doesn't forbid anything - it's not his place. He definitely recommends not watching Harry Potter - as do I. He also doesn't say that women who have to use daycare are committing mortal sin. He says that women who don't have to use daycare but do it anyway are doing injustice to their kids - who have a right to have a parent present. Neither of these subjects are discussed in this video. Also, in general, I personally avoid calling priests "guys", even in cases where I find them to be revolting and heretics and I lose all respect for them as individuals. This is because I still respect the office of the priesthood, and that respect demands more than referring to them as just some guys. Just a thought - take that how you will.

Time for a donation to: Phatmass

Missed the joint? Man, that IS an understatement. I was literally in withdrawals. Thank God, Boss, Pham is up and running again and you are ok. Thanks heaps to God for the gift you are, Oh Fearless One Among Us! I will be digging deep for sure - it near on scared me stupid and stressed me into a near on bipolar episode to lose Pham............oh yeah......to lose you too, Boss. Thanks heaps, dUSt...........Regards.........Barb

When I read "heavily introverted", that immediately brings a question mark to my mind. All communities will require a person to be able to fully participate in recreation and community life. If heavily introverted means that you cannot do this, then I would say that you need to overcome that first. However, if heavily introverted means that you are awkward around strangers and would rather avoid parties but enjoy visiting with those you know, then I would say this won't be a problem. I'm assuming the latter described you in that you are attracted to community life. Solemn prayer, community life, Mass, the Rosary, and the reading of Scripture are common to most cloistered communities. Benedictines have a special emphasis on the Office and Lectio Divina (scripture reading with meditation). Dominicans are often thought of as having a special devotion to the Rosary and tend to study more than the average. Carmelites emphasize contemplative prayer and solitude (though they still have recreation and sometimes need to work with others!). The Franciscans are more penitential and have a great love for nature. You mentioned attractions that belong to all of these! But which draws you the most?

Having a dreadful time with bipolar. My psychiatrist and my GP are both on leave until the end of this month. These are the only two people I have ever spoken in depth with about the voices I can hear (inside my head not with my ear)during an episode. These voices (sometimes voice only) are really sticking the boots in. I am hoping this episode will not result in hospitalisation and at this point, it is not necessary. But any little stress could push it over the borderline into psychosis if I use the past as a guidance tool, which it is not as yet. I can't explain because there are no words. This is the worst episode in 14 years. I have not needed hospital for 14 years. That is the insidious nature of a bipolar illness. I rang Public Mental Health Emergency telephone line. She said that I was speaking logically, was not suicidal nor a danger to self or others and so they could not help me. That is a cause I am going to take up, I hope, when this episode is over. Apparently, one has to be illogical, suicidal and/or a danger to self or others before Public Mental Health will assist..............are they really waiting for a sufferer to reach the aforementioned stage before giving them assistance in some way? My parish priest might be calling today to water my garden if no one else is able to do so. I hope it will be Father and that he will have time for coffee and a chat. My spiritual director OMI, Oblates of Mary Immaculate) passed away quite suddenly while holidaying with his family in another state, not all that long after my Home Mass to renew life private vows.. I have also contacted my Carmelite nun friend asking for her prayer too. Thank you very much for prayer and may The Good Lord Bless you and yours.............Barb

@BarbaraTherese I love that first video - have watched it many times. Dave Allen had a wicked sense of humour, always made me laugh.

We are all multifaceted complex creations - and The Lord has created us thus -.............. A young priest asked his bishop, “May I smoke while praying?”... The answer was an emphatic “No!” Later, when he sees an older priest puffing on a cigarette while praying, the younger priest scolded him, “You shouldn’t be smoking while praying! I asked the bishop, and he said I couldn’t do it!” “That’s odd,” the old priest replied. “I asked the bishop if I could pray while I’m smoking, and he told me that it was okay to pray at any time!” https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/dotmagis-blog/more-jesuit-jokes/ 3) Holy Smoke: There is always a right way and a wrong way to proceed: Two Jesuit novices both wanted a cigarette while they prayed. They decided to ask their superior for permission. The first asked, but was told no. A little while later he spotted his friend smoking. "Why did the superior allow you to smoke, but not me?" he asked. His friend replied, "Because you asked if you could smoke while you prayed, and I asked if I could pray while I smoked!" https://catholic-resources.org/JesuitJokes.htm (Lyrics transcribed below video) "Forever Young" May God bless and keep you always May your wishes all come true May you always do for others And let others do for you May you build a ladder to the stars And climb on every rung May you stay forever young Forever young, forever young May you stay forever young. May you grow up to be righteous May you grow up to be true May you always know the truth And see the light surrounding you May you always be courageous Stand upright and be strong May you stay forever young Forever young, forever young May you stay forever young. May your hands always be busy May your feet always be swift May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift May your heart always be joyful And may your song always be sung May you stay forever young Forever young, forever young May you stay forever young.

I thought some of you might find this of interest. https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/religious-life/column/success-religious-life-what-it

God bless you Barbara

Library book

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I recommend you get the answers straight from the horse's mouth and contact your Dominican province. www.opeast.org for the Province of St. Joseph (eastern US) www.opcentral for the Province of St. Albert (midwest US) www.opsouth.org for the Province of St. Martin de Porres (south US) www.opwest for the Province of the Holy Name of Jesus (western US)

I agree with Gloriana35. The vast majority of communities today have changed considerably in the past 50 years (since Vatican II); even many which are relatively traditional (as opposed to Traditionalist) are more open and flexible than communities used to be. I think there is a difference between long-standing communities that have remained conservative/traditional and those founded in recent years. The former tend to have taken the adjustments called for in Perfectae Caritatis (and even earlier Vatican documents) quite seriously, even if their interpretations differ from those who are more progressive.

I agree that this sort of attitude is unhealthy - but it was very common once upon a time (and something I myself, and others I knew, experienced.) I dearly hope those attitudes are no longer in existence, but one never knows. (When I entered the convent, someone who went to the chapel early, to spend time in private prayer before the Offices, would be in trouble for 'singularisation.') Though my experience began over forty years ago, I've noticed that some communities to which people on this forum have linked seem quite strict - very extensive schedules of common life, going back to the 'old habit,' and so forth. It is not unthinkable that ways one might think were outdated may still exist.

I don't really know how anyone intending to spend the rest of one's life in a community where one doesn't know the common language can seriously think s/he will be able to fully participate in the life of that community.

A priest recommended that I read the book "The Shack" - I think I abandoned reading it about half way through. I did not like it at all. But there was an interesting way of thinking about religious realities. Interpretation of my little tale about Mary's Mercy Gate. It is absolutely fictional, or what I call fictional fact....all fictional with facts here and there. I am not proclaiming it as any sort of theological understanding. It is just a little fictional fact story.............. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were human beings who trod our earth under our skies as was St Peter. They saw the same moon, stars and sun. Jesus, fully human and Fully God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, One God. Jesus instigates Mary's Mercy Gate. He died for every single human being ever existed, existing or to exist. His Love is absolutely unconditional. His Loving Mercy is mind boggling. He appoints His mother to be "Mary, Mother of Mercy", to in a sense administer His Mercy and to proclaim His Unity with her in all things. Jesus will lead to His mother as Mary leads to her Son. St Joseph is Patron Saint of The Church, One Holy Catholic and Universal. We don't know much about St Joseph except he is chosen to be foster father to The Son of God and husband and protector for Mary. Therefore, rightly is he Patron of The Church, The Mystical Body of Christ on earth, where we living are The Church Militant (i.e. we are engaged in a war with Satan, like it or not) St Joseph must have been a holy and remarkable, strong, man beyond question. He is chosen, by The Father, to guide and protect Mary and the baby Jesus at a dreadful, terrifying, time in their lives and they had to flee into Egypt. St Joseph surely must be fully in union, it seems to me, with The Father - hence in Heaven St Joseph in absolute humility is fully supportive of Mary, his beloved wife, and Jesus, his beloved foster Son. In fact, they are United as One. They are co-conspirators in the story. Jesus and Joseph were carpenters insofar as we know. Hence, they build Mary's Mercy Gate in the rear of Heaven and Jesus explains why the gate is needed to His mother and foster father, St Joseph. Jesus and Joseph are also, as carpenters, responsible for constructing the beds in Heaven. Jesus has been watching Peter at the gate of Heaven for a while now and then with St Peter's MASSIVE BOOK OF RULES AND REGULATIONS. Jesus raises eyebrows now and then. St Peter is one of the apostles of Jesus, who were often getting it all wrong - Peter becomes a sort of spokesman for the others......but still often Peter is getting it all wrong too. But it is Peter's confession and proclamation of Jesus that moves Jesus to make him our first representative head and leader, Pope and Holy Father, of The Church Militant on earth. Peter gets it wrong again when he cuts off the ear of Malchus in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is arrested. Jesus recognises that only The Father could reveal Him: Matthew Ch16: :............. (Rock n Roll - Hold to Peter and be like a rock and roll with the punches) Peter, in Heaven, is responsible for letting into Heaven those Catholics that have kept all the rules and regulations (that is a sort of 'tongue in cheek' statement on my part. A related joke*** follows below) Peter reports to The Father how many beds are needed according to whom Peter lets into Heaven. The Father does a head count every night. The Father is the absolute essence of simplicity and Love, gentleness and compassion. He relies on Peter and all in Heaven to get their responsibilities right. It is The Holy Spirit the engine and means of all things, in Heaven and on earth.........and the little conspiracy afoot in Heaven. The Holy Spirit is continually leading all through Love as Love to The Father, through Jesus..........because that is the Way The Father has chosen the whole of creation to be. Amen (and I mean it, buster!)- I mean, if you think about it, what Love The Father must have for us all to give His Only Son to us! What Love Jesus must have for every single one of us to be with us all the way, even to a terrible death. He went before us and journeys with us all, without exception, to The Father in the Way The Father has chosen for each one of us without exception i.e. general and particular vocation. The rest, you can put together, because I can't ...... I am weary "and all that sort of undeserving" (line from my poetry)........I need some quiet under the pergola with coffee and a smoke (and all that sort of undeserving) It has rained and it looks like more, so I did not need someone to water my garden after all. (and all that sort of undeserving). _________________ ***The joke, mentioned above. A muslim man goes to Heaven. Jesus is showing him around Heaven. That is where the angels are, and over there is the tuck shop we all share, to the left of you are the dormitories. Suddenly, there is a huge brick wall -very long and very tall. Jesus lapses into silence, So the muslim man says "Excuse me, Jesus, what is the wall all about please?" Jesus looks horrified "Shhhhh, do be quiet - the Catholics are there and they think they are the only one's here.

I lived in Australia for most of my life. At one school, when we walked home some kids from another school would chant " caflicks, caflicks make me sick, call the doctor quick quick quick" . We thought they were weirdos, if they got too close, we would chuck rocks at them. No one died, no injuries.

Our religious vocation is first and foremost to follow the Christ. The community is but a vehicle. In the monastic setting we do this as a group of friends, that after many years become family. Some of our fellow monks will become our closest soul mates because xe are on the same journey and undergo the same ups and downs along this particular journey. Let's get real for a moment here: loving each other, encouraging each other, noticing when someone is down or tired or under the weather...here lies true monastic love. We travel and support each other every day little by little. I don 't think hours and hours of adoration or prayers or fasting until one can barely stand up are psychologically balanced practices. Talking, encouraging, listening , is. More worrying is why? Isn"t there a tinge of spiritual pride in all of this? Seeking the beautiful in the other is a far more demanding and humbling affair. The more we continue in this life the more we should become like the Christ in his overwhelming avalabilty to others in a simple and nature way.Loving your fellow monks(nuns) in all their frailties and trying to build ourselves up ito walk confidently in firm biblicall truth is our day to day sacrifice. I seem to sense in some of the comments a tendancy to measure by the world's standards. The more one fasts the better. The more one prays the better. Almost to the detrement of the unique make up of every monk or nun. For those special godly people who tried the life but chose otherwise, please realise how special you are in God's eyes and that the passage in the monastic life is only one way to live out an apostolic and holy devout life. I am convinced and humbled by the fact that many families living in difficult evonomic and emotional situations live out a witness a thoysand times greater than my own. For those who have left this life wounded, humiliated, wounded and broken and feel lost as to theiir place in the world. 1. You are cheished by your creator just as you are. 2. Give yourself a lot of time to heal 3.Find someone you trust to open up to who is dependable 4. Learn to love yourself again. The way God made you with your talents, gifts , smile,charisma. These are all unique to you. Al blessings in the only person worth following, The Christ

Baby’s breath

bottoms up

Time's up

Reach out

Time out

Story time

This was on the homepage newsfeed: https://churchpop.com/2019/09/29/the-chaplet-of-st-michael-a-powerful-prayer-for-spiritual-warfare-every-catholic-should-know/ Pretty intense, invoking all the choirs of angels.

This is a powerful novena from the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, beginning on the Feast of the Archangels (today, though not officially celebrated as it is Sunday) and ending on the Feast of the holy Rosary, October 7. Anyway, the novena is pretty simple and straightforward… Pray a rosary, or a decade, as well as offer a personal sacrifice of some sort for the intentions of the Novena: "The intention of the Novena this year is for the Spirit of Truth to come with great power into the hearts of everyone in the Church and prevail over all errors, lies, evil intentions, disordered passions, and works of the flesh, and lead us all into the bright light of Truth. We pray for the grace of a vivid awareness of the indwelling Trinity, for the grace to to remember and understand deeply Jesus who loves us, and for the grace to bear fruitful witness to him in the world." With all the stuff going on in the Church and in our own hearts, it's really important to join in this.

Your Love and Your Grace I just returned from a beautiful weekend retreat experience at our province’s retreat center in Hankinson. We had talks, small group sessions, Mass, adoration, confession, and even “Songs & S’more Talk” (a delightful late evening campfire). This was my first time leading a...

Howdy BarbaraTherese, been living a different reality for much of my life too and until recently took tons of drugs to fit in with general idea of weird reality. Hope you are in a place where you are able to deal with the more colourful aspects of your life. I dont have bipolar, just DID which is mostly resolved except for the yearning to return there even though it wasn't very good. I just deal with anxiety and depression

Arch enemies

it's hers

Well it's true it's an act of love for them. The reality is, if you don't understand that a sin is a mortal sin, it's not a mortal sin. Now we can be culpable for our ignorance. And God knows exactly how much we really understand and how much we ought to have understood. So it's not something to eff around with. But we don't know if people that do gay sex or contraceptive sex etc. are going to even get the lightest punishment. Their lives will be darkened more than they could be, they are not living their best life. But their degree of responsibility is known only to heaven. Actually how God works is He makes all our failings work for good. Even our mortal sins are used by Him in the design of His glory and our salvation. The churchs teaching on gay sex is the most difficult one for me to accept, more difficult than the eucharist. But, I am also utterly convinced of the cosmic gravity of sex in the universe and also that satan makes war with this method primarily. He hunts us via sex and God is trying to save us via sex, and I don't think Jesus would have agreed to die before giving us the proper teaching on this, it's that important. Regarding Cardinal Newman. It's ok to be skeptical if he never fell sexually. But the point is he triumphed in the end. He wasn't a martyr graced with momentary heroic sanctity, and that suggests he achieved an exalted degree of integration and purity that was stable in life. It's true about the near occassion of sin - but - not to scandalize you, but the temptation to physicality between members of the same sex is very common in contemplative religious life, even among people that are "straight". This is a phenomenon known to happen in prisons as well. And it's just- we have to be careful not to think that sin is inevitable. God does give us sufficient grace to remain out of mortal sin, he will never withdraw that, ever. The question is our response. With the saints, the response to grace is perfected even in this life.

Basically with the civil matter, the ship has sailed. As a matter of prudence, canceling the right to civil marriage which exists now is not a hill the Church asks us to die on. As a matter of justice, we could ask ourselves why the government should be allowed to privilege married relationships over others. The original purpose of government involvement in marriage was to regulate who was engaging in sex and making babies. There is a compelling state interest in not having out of wedlock births or a population born from incest. This rationale doesn't apply to gay unions as they aren't reproductive. And yet the government is privileging them, over non married relationships for some reason - maybe due to prejudice. Which is an injustice. Anyway, that's a digression. Basically you're not required to favor cancelling gay marriage rights. It's a prudential matter at this point. Love is not a sin but extramarital sex is. Blessed John Henry Newman had an intense relationship with a man, another catholic priest, that he lived with, for decades. He called him the light of his earthly life. He asked to be buried with him, and they are indeed buried together. Theres no evidence that he ever violated celibacy. All evidence says he was an extremely holy man and also likely, had SSA. Love between gay people can be pure - it's possible. But extramarital sex, including gay sex, isn't an act of love, and that's where it gets twisted by people. We are in an awkward time in the church where we need gay saints and need to platform faithful gay Catholics, to show gay people there is another way to exist as a gay person other than what the world is proposing. And yet the world we are trying to evangelize can interpret our efforts as a capitulation to their values. Unlike a lot of people who favor more openness to gay people in the church, I think clarity on what the Gospel demands is 100% necessary for evangelization. That pov is rejected at the highest level, I realize. I compare gay sex (and all illegitimate forms of sex) to junk food. Or, a somewhat more offensive comparison is the scene in Hunger Games, where the people at a fancy party gorge themselves on food and then swallow an emetic in order to vomit and make room for more. Eating for stimulation rather than nourishment. Deriving pleasure while frustrating the purpose. Most people have had the experience of gorging on junk so it's less of an insult imo vs eating dirt.

How Pell was brought to justice. Those central to the case speak out.

"Wouldn't it be nice if you never have to get annoyed by dog barking? This new ultrasonic device is doing it, as it easily turns your dog into a well behaved family member." https://petgentle.pissedconsumer.com/review.html

I thought the same. I for one will appreciate it even more now.

So you used the above stats to justify someone saying "black women have a different baby daddy for each of their kids"? If you can't see how racist this is then unfortunately you are part of the problem. It's like saying "there's nothing anti-Catholic about pointing out the fact that priests like altar boys".... and then justifying the statement with statistics. It's mind boggling that people can't see the racism in what he said. Smh.

Thank you for letting me know this site was back up Barbara. God bless

Forever young

"The Catholic Church in Victoria is facing at least 800 new legal actions for child sexual abuse in the wake of landmark legislation allowing victims to sue the church and revisit unfair settlements made under in-house compensation schemes." "Among them are lawsuits in the Victorian Supreme Court seeking compensation for abuse by convicted paedophile priests, including Gerald Ridsdale and Paul David Ryan. At least one action has been filed against George Pell." https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6407093/catholic-church-swamped-with-hundreds-of-new-sex-abuse-claims/?cs=62&fbclid=IwAR14VydxumXKUACB-MHAexOHko_k3lAtPLXNNh3s-Ql1JlaaUVye0M_glH0

I pray God delivers our Priesthood of all active homosexuals, pedophiles and any other type of sexually deviancy in the priesthood!!! This is disgusting! I hope every guilty priest is brought to justice!!! The Church has suffered enough of this sick debased crime! Christ himself said a millstone should be tied to their necks and thrown into the sea! So disgusted was he with sins against the innocent! BUT I also pray for the many INNOCENT priests who will be accused in this maddening climate. I’ve known a few...destroys their entire life...